MCR Pathways is launching in the Scottish Borders in January 2027
7 October 2026
Delivered in partnership with Scottish Borders Council, Developing the Young Workforce Borders, and Skills Development Scotland, our award-winning mentoring programme will launch across nine schools and three Borders College campuses to support young people making the transition from the classroom to campus, and progressing confidently to achieving qualifications.
From January 2027, the programme will operate in Berwickshire High School, Selkirk High School, Galashiels Academy, Earlston High School, Eyemouth High School, Hawick High School, Jedburgh Grammar Campus, Kelso High School, and Peebles High School. In addition, the programme will run across Borders College at the Tweedbank, Galashiels, and Newton St Boswells campuses.
What is a Trusted Adult Volunteer Mentor?
CR Pathways trusted adult volunteer mentors are matched with a young person based on shared interests and life experiences. They meet for just one hour a week within the school or college setting, providing a reliable, consistent presence to listen without judgement, build confidence, and champion their ambitions.
You don’t need special qualifications or formal experience to make a life-changing difference. Instead, the main qualities we look for in our mentors are simple:
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Empathy & Active Listening: A genuine willingness to listen without judgement.
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Reliability: Showing up consistently for just one hour a week.
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Encouragement: Believing in a young person’s potential and future.
Proven Impact
Recent independent research by Ipsos Scotland demonstrated the impact of MCR Pathways mentoring on young people’s education and life outcomes:
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Fewer Exclusions: MCR Pathways leads to a 7 to 9 percentage point reduction in care-experienced pupils ever being excluded from school, closing the overall exclusion gap by around one-third.
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Higher Staying-On Rates: S5 staying-on rates increase by 8 to 13 percentage points, while S6 staying-on rates increase by 5 to 14 percentage points.
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Positive Post-School Destinations: At 9 months post-school, positive destinations increase by up to 7 percentage points, while unemployment is reduced by 5 percentage points, a consistently maintained impact over time.
Become a Volunteer Mentor at MCR Pathways
Ahead of the January 2027 launch, we’re looking for volunteer mentors to come forward right now. By completing your training and safety checks ahead of time, you will be fully prepared and ready to go for our launch.
Give just one hour a week, become a trusted adult volunteer mentor, and help a young person in the Scottish Borders realise their potential
